The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-14
LUCY'S GUARDIAN.
The Brief Story Of a Wife's Sal
walton.

"You will-er--stay and-and meet
Mr.. Rochdale, my dear, will you
notp "
"Well, no, papa, replied Edith Las
celles, IN a meditative fashion, 81
don't think / will. You see, my posi-
ton is a peculiar one. have no hest
tation in saying that l find it a disa-
greeable one also. I suppose if were
like heroine of romance / should feel
avid excitement and strange thrill,
etc. etc., at meeting the man who is
to be my husband but who is utterly
unknown to me; but not being hero
Inc at all, these feelings are wanting"
"Of course, my DEAR" Mr.. Lascelles
observed, trife nervously, 'you know
you can refuse him if you like, but you
are so sensible and"
Eyes" cut in the girl, decisively,
"and shall lose five thousand a year,
shan't - Well, / tell you fatty, papa,
shall lose the five thousand most GER
tainIy if don't like the man."
Then you intend to let the money
slip from you altogether. In plain
words, you refuse"
Edith shook her head.
81 never do any thing in hurry"
she determined, and a glance at her
pretty, firm mouth bore testimony to
her words; "but you did not tell me,
papa, what induced Aunt Maria to
choose this Mr.. Rochdale more than
any other person."
"She was in love with his father
years ago. AT least, l believe so, my
dear, and So"
II understand. Edith's lip curled
In sheer; delightfully."- sentimental
and deplorably vulgar"
Two lays later Edith found herself
onsconced in the suggest corner OF
pretty Mrs. Dalton's drawing room.
She was very fond of Lucy; they had
been firm friends in their childish DAYS
and Mrs. Dalton had the greatest re-
spect for the tall, handsome girl who
was so far her superior in brains. The
last time they had met had been in
Paris, when Edith was introduced to
Lucy's husband, one of the kindest-
hearted men in the world-a drysalter,
or a soapboiler, or some such myster-
ious and consequently wealthy person
and to the golden-haired child the
very image of her mother and the idol
of the household.
You are looking pale, Lucy
Edith remarked, as she stitched vigor-
ously at her work-she was never idle
amoment.
Lucy suddenly belied the suggestion
by coloring wildly, almost painfully.
81 am very we'll, DEAR" size an
swered; and Edith's quick ear caught
the faintest trace of annoyance in the
pretty voice.
She pondered little over this, and
by and by Mrs. Dalton rose hurriedly
'You won't mind, Edith, if leave
you for half an hour, will your |
must 60 to Dents; they have not sent
home the things ordered"
'Let me goP" Edith put down her
work. "You know you have been out
this morning, and Herbert does not
like to see you tired when he comes
home"
80, the drive won't hurt me, and I
would rather go myself, the people are
so stupid. | know you won't be dull;
there is pile of new books. and baby
will come down if you would care to
have her."
Edith stared at the fire when alone.
eff it was not too absurd" she said
to herself, as she recalled the nervous
ness and haste with which her friend
had spoken, 81 should imagine that
Lucy did not care about my being with
her just now, She made me very
welcome, certainly; but she seems
changed, and l don't know exactly
where or how! Perhaps she is i'll. She
may say what she likes, but she looks
wretched. lfso, l am very glad l have
come. She is an emotional creature.
and would probably have become
Tretched and depressed while Herbert
Is away"
just about six o'clock Mrs. Dalton
Tourned.
lis Herbert in?" she ashed, as she
tlrow off her mantle and united hel
b, nret-strings. There was the faint.
est Fish on either cheek that might
have been caused by the autumnal
wind, but seemed to rise from sup.
pressed excitement
Decidedly, Lucy is ill.," Edith de
termined, as she replied in the mega.
tive; but she said nothing, only re-
solved that during Mr. Dalton's forth.
coming absence she would take hel
friend in hand and doctor her.
At dinner time Edith, Watching her
saw the evident effort made by the
young wife to appear cheerful and easy
and was surprised that Mr.. Dalton die
not seem to be aware that any thing
was wrong.
81 certainly shall not enlighten him, ,
she declared to herself, "but l will SCI
what l can do with Lucy when he i:
gone. Ignorance is bliss in such cas-,
as this. Why, he would fret himself
to tiddlestrings if he thought she wer
ILL"
When the morning arrived which
witnessed Mr.. Dalton's departure t.